Today on the Mushroom Hour Podcast we are graced by the presence of Melissa Waddingham founder of Truffle and Mushroom Hunter. As a professional truffle hunter, Melissa respectfully and sustainably searches for truffles with her trained canine companions. She has studied forestry and woodland management and exudes a passion for woodlands and their association with mushrooms and truffles. Her work has given her a reverence for the delicate truffle woodland ecology and its sustainability. It is a rare environment crucial for not only her beloved truffles, but also the well-being of trees in areas of poor nutrients. In pursuing this work, Melissa has created a mushroom and truffle foraging business where she does it all - training truffle hounds, leading truffle hunting courses, performing woodland surveys in search of truffle presence or potential and collaborating with landowners to nurture environments for truffle cultivation.   TOPICS COVERED:   Introduction to Fungi Through the Stomach  Discovering Truffles  Truffle Habitat - England vs Portugal  Truffle Clues & Aromas  Engaging the Senses  Ecology & Life of Truffles  Special Relationship with a Truffle Dog  What Types of Dogs can Hunt Truffles?  Traits of Good Truffle Dogs  Training a Truffle Dog  Learning the Language of Your Truffle Dog  Advice for Beginning the Truffle Hunting Journey  Surveying Forests for Truffles  Truffle Cultivation Industry  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Truffle & Mushroom Hunter Website: https://truffleandmushroomhunter.com/  Truffle & Mushroom Hunter FB: https://www.facebook.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/  Truffle & Mushroom Hunter IG: https://www.instagram.com/truffleandmushroomhunter/  Lagotto Romagnolo (Italian Truffle Hunting Dog): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagotto_Romagnolo  Ian Hall: http://www.trufflesandmushrooms.co.nz/  Amanita caesarea (Fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanita_caesarea